Drum exerciser



Oct- 8 1963 R. M. BlRKENBl-:UL ETAL 3,105,395

DRUM ExERcIsER Filed Feb. 25, 1962 United States Patent O 3,106,395 DRUM EXERCISER Robert M. Birkenbeul and Patrick W. Johnson; Fort Wayne, Ind.; said Birkenbeul assigner to said Johnson Filed Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 175,366

6 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) t The present invention relates -to a drum exerciser, and

more particularly to a mechanism having a rotatable drum tained, this mechanism being particularly useful in the' exercising of the arms and other parts of the body as well as the reduction of weight in the hip and leg portions.

It is anobject of this invention to provide an exerciser which is manually oper-able and may be used to not only massa-ge the bips, legs, stomach, back and the like but at the same time provides exercise for the arms, back, stomach and other portions of the body.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a drum which may be operated by an individual in such a manner that :the person may roll on it with different parts of his body in contact therewith, the mechanism providing handles which may be adjusted to different positions for the purpose of facilitating dilierent types of exercises. l

`Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference tothe following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the :accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end view of an embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken substantially valon-g section line 2.-2 `of FIG. l.

`Referring to the drawings, a supporting frame or stand comprises four legs lwhich are assembled in end pairs 10, and 12, respectively. Each end pair of legs 10 and 12 is assembled together in the form of an A-frame wherein the upper ends thereof `are secured together by means of a supporting orsocket plate 14jpreferably formed by stamping from self-supporting sheet metal'.V The plate 114 is sirbstantiallyU-shapedin cross-section as is more clearly shown in FIG. 2 with the opposite. sides 16 and 18 thereof havin-g halves of socket portions formed therein to provide two angularly related sockets 20 and 22. These sockets 20 and 22'receiv`e `the upper ends respectively of the legs 10 and 12. Preferably, theinsi-dediarneters of j these sockets 20 vand 22 are substantially coextensivewith the outer diameters ofthe legs 10 and 12 such that the legs have a fric-tional iit with the sockets.

Once the legs fare assembled into the sockets, a bolt or screw 24 is passed through the sides 16 and |18 of the socket plate 14 for the purpose of drawing them together whereby the sockets 20 and 22 clamp securely onto the upper ends of the legs 10 and 12.

The plates 14 are provided each with a straighty upper edge 26 having a part cylindrical recess 28 formed thereinbetween the ends. As shown in both ligures, an elon- 31,196,395 Patented Oct. 8, 1963 ICC 'gated bar 30 which may be circular in Vcross-section has its opposite ends cradled in the recesses 28 whereby the bar 36 is supported in horizontal position as shown. A radial portion of the bar 30 extends upwardly out of the recesses 28 for a purpose which will become apparent from the following description.

A clamping bar indicated by ythe numeral 32 is secured to the upper edge of the plate 14 by means `of bolt and nut assemblies34rand 36, the bolt and nut assembly 34 being attached'to the supporting pla-te 14 on one side of the recess 28 as shown in FIG. Il while the assembly 36 is fastened to the plate 14 on the opposite side of the recess 28. The clamping bar 32` is preferably made of solid lsteel such that when the bolt and nut assemblies 34 and 36 are tightened, the bar` '32 will be clamped tightly against the bar 30, forcing the latter into the respective socket 28. The supporting bar 30 is thereby held against rotation with respect to each supporting plate 14.

Preferably, the bolt land nut assembly 36 uses-a thumb n-ut 38 which can Ibe manually tightened and loosened. By this means, lthe clamping bar 32 may be clamped and unelamped selectively from the supporting fbar 30. However, in normal operation the nut 38 is turned down tightly enough so `as to securely clamp the bar 32 against the supporting bar 30.

Rotatably mounted on the supporting bar 30 is a drum assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. This drum assembly comprises a tubular shaft 42 which ia telescoped over the supporting bar 30 and which is rotatable thereon. Wel-ded to the shaft 42 are -a plurality of radially outward-ly extending discs 44 which are preferably fabricated of relatively thick sheet steel for a purpose which will become apparent from the following description.

Each `dis-c `44- is provided with a radial recess 46 in the outer periphery thereof as shown more clearly in FIG. l. On the outer periph-cries of these discs 44 is welded or otherwise secured -a cylindrical shell of relatively stili sheet metal 48, this shell 48 having an axial slot for-med by the lopposite ends thereof which are curved ras shown at 50. These curved ends 50 lit into the recesses 46 of the discs 44 so that the cylindrical contour of the drum shell 48 will not be interrupted. However, the ends 50 are spaced apart to provide a slot as previously mentioned for a purpose which will be described in the following.

On the outer periphery of the shell 48 is mounted a sheet of foam rubber or the like material '52, the opposite ends 54. of this sheet extending into the recesses 46 of the plates 44 `and into the slot formed between the ends 5l) of the shell 48. In order to secure the foarn rubber sheet 52 in place, an elongated wedge 56 of hard rubber or the like material is fitted into the slot formed between the shell ends 50 `as shown in FIG. l thereby clamping the respective foam rubber ends 54 against the curved endsl 50 of the shell '38. By this means, the sheet 52 of foam rubber is securely locked onto the outer periphery of the dr-um shell 4,8. Y

A pair Iof handles 58 are removably secured to the opposite ends of the supporting bar 3l), respectively, adjacent tothe drum assembly 40. Each of these bars 58 is clamped in position by means of a clamping block 60 which is provided with anopenin-g 62. The block 60 is also formed with a longitudinally extending slot 64 which extends through the opening 62. The supporting bar 30 passes through the block opening 62 `and the block 60 is securely clamp-ed onto the Ibar 30 by means of a bolt 66 passed through the vlower' endsV of the block 60 to squeeze the lfurcations -togetlien these furcatio-ns beingY formed by .the

supporting plates 14. The drum assembly 46 is rotatable about the supporting bar 30 and the handles 58 are stationary and extend in the embodiment shown in an upright position. However, if it is desired to swing the handles 5S to some other position, it is only necessary to loosen the nuts whereby the supporting rod 30 may be rotated in a position which will swing the handles 58 to the proper position. Following this, the nuts 36 are tightened to clamp the supporting rod 3i) against rotation.

In the preferred embodiment -of this invention, the drum assembly 40 is approximately one foot in diameter and approximately two feet in length whereby a user will ordinarily lhave ample space within which to sit or -lie on the drum while operating Lthe same. While the mechanism may be used in any manner which may be desired, one contemplated method of use is for the person to sit on the drum assembly 40 grasping the upper end of the handles 58 in his hands. By means of force exerted by the arms, the person may roll himself to `and fro over the drum, thereby massaging the buttocks region. ln another method of using the exerciser, the handles 58 may lirst be rotated -to a position at which they are angled downwardly following which a person may lie with his stomach on the drum Awhile gripping the handles 58 in his hands.- By exerting suitable force on the handles 58, .the person may thereupon roll himself on the drum to and fro, thereby massaging and exercising his midsection.

As will now become apparent, the exerciser may be used in any number of different manners, the handles 58 -always being positioned suitably to permit the panticular exercise desired.

While We have described Iabove the principles of our invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to .the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device comprising a supporting stand; said stand including two spaced-apart -leg sets; each leg set including a pair of elongated leg members joined together in the form of an A-frame by means of a socket plate; said socket plate being a rigid structure of sheet ysteel of generally U-shape and having a pair of opposite parallel sides and elongated sockets therein, said sockets having axes which intersect in an angle, said axes dening a plane which is parallel to the sides of said socket plate, said socket plate also having an upper edge in which is provided `an arcuate recess, the intersection of said axes coinciding with the center of said recess, said pair of sockets receiving the respective ends of said pair of leg members; an elongated -bar having the opposite end portions cradled in the recesses of the two socket plates; a drum rotatably mounted on said bar, said drum comprising a tubular shaft telescoped over said bar and rotatably mounted thereon, a plurality of rigid sheet metal discs xedly secured to said shaft and axially spaced apart thereon, said discs being parallel to each other and lying in planes normal to said shaft, said discs each having a recess in the periphery, all of the disc recesses being axially aligned, a tubular shell of sheet metal surrounding and secured to the outer peripheries of said discs, said shell having an axially extending slot therein in registry with said disc recesses, a sheet of foam rubber-like material mounted on said tubular shell and having opposite ends which enter said slot and said disc recesses, an elongated wedge fitted into said slot and frictionally engaging the opposite ends of said sheet of ribber-like material for securing the latter in place; each said socket plate having a clamping lbar thereon which engages said elongated bar and clamps the latter in the socket plate recess, said clamp'- ing bar removably securing said elongated -bar against rotation, bolt assemblies removably securing the clamping bar to the socket plate; and a pair of handles secured to said elongated bar adjacent the opposite ends respectively Off Said drum, said handles extending radially out- 4 wardly from said elongated bar whereby they may be gripped by a person mounted on said drum.

2. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein said socket plate further comprises -a straight upper edge in which the recess is disposed, and said clamping bar overlies and is parallel to said edge such that said bolt assemblies connect said clamping bar to said socket plate on opposite sides respectively of the socket plate recess.

3. An exercising drum comprising a supporting stand; said stand including supporting legs having secured thereto a pair of spaced apart mounting members, each mounting member having a recess therein, an elongated bar having its opposite ends mounted in the recesses, respectively, of said mounting members, at least one clamping bar removably attached to one clamping member in a position which overlies the elongated bar, said clamping bar securing said elongated bar against rotation in said recesses, a drum rotatably mounted on said bar, said drum comprising a tubular shaft telescoped over said bar and rotatably mounted thereon, a plurality of rigid sheet metal discs tixedly secured to said shaft and axially spaced apart thereon, said discs being parallel to each other and lying in planes normal to said shaft, said discs each having a recess in the periphery, all of the disc recesses being axially aligned, a tubular shell of sheet metal surrounding and secured to the outer peripheries of said discs, said shell having an axially extending slot therein in registry with said disc recesses, a sheet of foam rubber-like material mounted on said tubular shell and having opposite ends which enter said slot and said disc recesses, an elongated wedge fitted in to said slot and frictionally enga-ging the opposite ends of said sheet of rubber-like material for securing the latter in place; and a pair of handles secured to said elongated bar adjacent the opposite ends respectively of said drum, said handles extending radially outwardly from said elongated bar whereby they may be gripped Iby a person mounted on saiclvdarum.

4. An exercising `drum comprising a supporting stand; said stand including supporting legs having secured thereto a pair of spaced-apart mounting members, each mounting member having a recess therein, an elongated bar having its opposite ends mounted in the recesses, respectively, of said mounting members, at least one clamping bar removably attached to one clamping member in a position which overlies the elongated bar, said clamping bar securing said elongated bar against rotation in said recesses, a drum rotatably mounted on said bar, said drum comprising a tubular shaft telescoped over said bar and rotatably mounted thereon, a plurality of rigid sheet metal discs lixedly secured to said shaft and axially spaced apart thereon, said discs being parallel to each other and lying in planes normal to said shaft, said discs each having a recess in the periphery, all of the disc recesses being axially aligned, a tubular shell of sheet metal surrounding and secured to the outer peripheries of said discs, said shell having an axially extending slot therein in registry with said disc recesses, a sheet of foam rubber-like material mounted on said tubular shell and having opposite ends which enter said slot and said disc recesses, an elongated wedge fitted into said slot and frictionally engaging the opposite ends of said sheet of rubber-like material for securing the latter in place.

5. An exercising drum comprising a supporting stand; said stand including supporting legs having secured thereto a pair of spaced apart mounting members, each mounting member having a recess therein, an elongated bar having its opposite ends mounted in the recesses, respectively, of said mounting members, at least one clamping bar removably attached to one clamping member in a position which overlies the elongated bar, said clamping bar securing said elongated bar against rotation in said recesses, a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said elongated bar, and a pair of handles secured to said elongated bar adjacent the opposite ends respectively of said drum, said ima,

handles extending radially outwardly from said elongated bar whereby they may be gripped by a person mounted on said drum. v

6. An exercising drum comprising a supporting stand, said stand including supporting legs having secured thereof said drum, said handles extending radially outwardly from said elongated bar whereby they may be gripped by a person mounted `on said drum.

to a pair of spaced-apart mounting members, an elon- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,407,642 Day et al. Feb. 21, 1922 1,586,222 Sellner May 25, 1926 2,176,935'vk Whiteley Aug. 29, 1939 2,303,922 Elmquist ....l. Dec. 1, 1942 2,886,315 Marshall May l2, 1959 

6. AN EXERCISING DRUM COMPRISING A SUPPORTING STAND, SAID STAND INCLUDING SUPPORTING LEGS HAVING SECURED THERETO A PAIR OF SPACED-APART MOUNTING MEMBERS, AN ELONGGATED BAR HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS MOUNTED ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, MEANS REMOVABLY CLAMPING SAID ELONGATED BAR AGAINST ROTATION TO SAID MOUNTING MEMBERS, A CYLINDRICAL DRUM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ELONGATED BAR, AND A PAIR OF HANDLES SECURED TO SAID ELONGATED BAR ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID DRUM, SAID HANDLES EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ELONGATED BAR WHEREBY THEY MAY BE GRIPPED BY A PERSON MOUNTED ON SAID DRUM. 